Winter is quickly falling away and I am so relieved to meet the spring sun again. 2016 was incredibly busy and 2017 looks like it will be even busier. This winter, we chose to not search for new schools for the spring, so that we could work on other projects for Language University, including one that we hope will reach children across our nation and maybe even across the world one day. All in good time though. I am still trying to take everything in stride, but it’s hard not to let my dreams get away from me, knowing that a few years ago, this program was all just an idea tucked away in my mind.

Who would have thought that our students would sing and dance along to our Spanish songs on our CD, or that teachers would tell us that our students are going home and teaching their brothers and sisters Chinese? Is there anything more humbling than that? I am grateful for every step forward we are able to take, and for every life we are able to change. We are here such a short time on this earth, and I am proud to be able to dedicate my life trying to make a difference.

This summer, I will be finishing my graduate studies at Middlebury College (finally!) and I am so looking forward to opening summer programs for 2018. I wonder how many children and schools we will be able to meet. Again, I am trying hard not to jump over each milestone and rush to the next, but as I said, it’s difficult not to want to see what the future has in store for our little company.

As we work this spring and summer to release a codified curriculum for teachers and parents, I just want to say again how grateful I am for this opportunity to introduce foreign language and cultures to all of my students and their families, and I am grateful for all of the wonderful people I’ve met along the way. I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted with our plans and I thank you all for your love and support.

-Lia